Judge Refuses to Throw Out Whittemore Documents

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A federal judge in Las Vegas has denied a request by lawyers for former lobbyist Harvey Whittemore to throw out evidence the FBI gathered to bring charges that he made illegal campaign contributions to Sen. Harry Reid and others.

Whittemore's lawyers argued the federal agents illegally seized more than 80 boxes of documents before he was indicted last summer on charges he violated campaign finance laws by using family and employees to contribute to the Nevada Democrat's re-election in 2007.

U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks ruled against Whittemore on Wednesday, saying he'd found no evidence that the government did anything wrong. He says the agents didn't need a warrant because Whittemore's ex-business partners in the Wingfield Nevada Group turned the documents over voluntarily.

His trial is set for May 14.

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